Advice requested: Considering going from 335 to M3

[Roth517]

I've had my E92 335i for exactly three years (bought it brand new) and it's the best car, let alone BMW, that I've owned. It's fast, gets good mileage, turns heads, etc. Like many 335 owners, however, the M3 has always intrigued me because, well, it's an M3. I originally planned on an M3 before it came out but the MSRP was a little out of my range, so I settled with my 335.

Recently I found a 2009 M3, loaded, low mileage, non-CPO but with warranty until 4/2013 and extended maintenance until 4/2015 (my warranty/maintenance is up 8/2012). I dickered the BMW dealership down to their admitted break even price ($55K) and they were also going to throw in a set of OEM 18" M3 wheels that I could mount snows on. But, with taxes, it was still nearly a grand higher than what I budgeted myself for a loan amount, so I said no thanks. (I'm fiscally responsible and am not going in the hole for a car, even if it's an M3, and had budgeted the appropriate increased annual amounts for fuel and insurance.) In reply, the dealer said they were not willing to sell the car at a loss right now, but "maybe in a month." As we all know, it's a niche car and it's fall. They've had it since Aug 1st and won't want to be sitting on it all fall and winter.

This would be a daily driver. I don't take many long trips. I've tracked my 335, but I won't be doing any more tracking because I don't have the fuck-you money to be buying new tires all the time.

So, the million dollar question: does it make sense and is it worth taking out a $42K+ loan with a 2.79% interest rate on a two and a half year-old car when I only owe $13K (at .9%) on mine and the F32 335/435i should be out spring of 2013 (which is what I'd get if I waited)? I love the my car, but it's just kind of old. What say you, M3ers?? Is it worth it for a daily driver? The responsible side of me says it's not worth it just for a V8, iDrive/nav, enhanced audio, and a HDD that I could store mp3s on...but it's such a badass car. Thanks and sorry for rambling.

EDIT: My daily commute is 10 miles, half freeway, half city. I wouldn't really be going out looking for twisties on the weekend and, like I said, I wouldn't be tracking it.

[abehwang]

The 0-60 is just as quick for both cars and not too much of a difference. Since this will be your daily you won't really be exceeding the speed limit on local/city roads above 55-60mph. However, you might miss the low end torque on your 335i compared to the M3 and you might miss the mpg you get on your 335i.
I drive my M as a daily, I average 16-18mpg city/hwy.
I love cold starts as the M sounds so grunty and mean
the handling is superb when I want to take it out on the back roads

It's all up to you

[FVM3]

get the 08 low mileage one

[jphughan]

Wait, you turned down a car loan over a measly $1K, even with a full set of 18" wheels (those aren't cheap!) thrown in?? Over the life of the loan -- never mind the car -- $1K is practically nothing if it's a car you really want, and I can't imagine that'd be the difference between fiscally responsible and irresponsible unless the number you're ok with is already stretching you very near to breaking point.

That said, if you're not going to the track, then you should only get the M3 if you at least plan to do a lot of spirited driving on back country roads with lots of twisties and little to no traffic. If you'll only be driving in the city or on straight roads the only differences you'll see with the M3 are less torque, worse fuel mileage, and increased fuel and insurance costs. The engine sound is addictive, there's no doubt about that, but that alone probably won't be enough to rationalize your loan to yourself.

I would say test drive the M3 and decide that way, but if you test drive it odds are you'll just fall in love and buy it, so you may not want to do that. So instead I'll say think long and hard about the type of driving you'll be doing and whether you believe you'll honestly spend enough time driving in areas and in ways where the differences between these cars will be apparent and appreciated.

[irish77380]

I traded a 335 coupe (2007) for a 2008 M3. When I had the 335, I honestly thought it was an amazing car, fast as f@ck etc and had a similar dilemma. But got the M anyway. To give you an idea I got a 335 coupe as a loaner car recently while the M was in for a routine service. Very disappointing in every aspect after driving the M3 for a while, almost like a half assed M3??

GET THE M3, YOU WONT REGRET IT!! :-)

[mylydiamy]

I drove M3 a few times. I have chipped 335i. There is no question about how amazing M3 is on track. But for DD, I think chipped or not chipped 335 is better for you, especially when cost is a factor. But once you are on track or twisties, M3 is addictive.

Test drive M3, then decide.

[FVM3]

M3 isnt expensive to maintain. I owned both 335i and m3 and i spent more money to maintain 335i then m3. M3 is a nice daily , it lacks low end torque but not really bad as something like s2000

[LarThaL]

A few points here:

Purchasing an M3 and cars like it, has to do more with passion than reason. Sure most people have a ballpark price limit, but if is exactly the car you want and you can afford it, get it.

It will be a very different car from the 335. The feel and powerband of a high revving small displacement V8 is so completely different from a tt-6. The M3 has very much a Jekyl and Hyde personality. It is very docile at low rpms, but when you push it, it is a beast. And you will need to push it to extract the performance. Still, it is quite an intoxicating experience when you do.

You talk about the next gen M3. Well it likely won't be here before 2014, and then you will be looking at shelling out $$$$ for a new car and a new model which will likely not sell below MSRP, for the first year anyway. This last point is really the most important factor to consider in your circumstance.

[Edward]

Hmm. Can you legitimately see yourself being able to toss money at the new M3 when it comes out? If not, I'd go for this deal right now. Part of that money will be going towards a longer warranty on the new car, whereas yours is almost out (and undoubtedly the car will breakdown). Not to mention, if you keep this car for a long while, the M3 will date itself at a pace twice as slow as any other E9x series. Plus it sounds like you have no idrive and that alone is enough for me to want to throw up on my lap while driving whatever no nav having 3 series I find myself driving.

Just don't go into this expecting a world of difference in daily driving. As you did mention you won't be tracking the M3 much if at all.

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by VVG

A few points here:

Purchasing an M3 and cars like it, has to do more with passion than reason. Sure most people have a ballpark price limit, but if is exactly the car you want and you can afford it, get it.

^This^

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Wait, you turned down a car loan over a measly $1K, even with a full set of 18" wheels (those aren't cheap!) thrown in?? Over the life of the loan -- never mind the car -- $1K is practically nothing if it's a car you really want, and I can't imagine that'd be the difference between fiscally responsible and irresponsible unless the number you're ok with is already stretching you very near to breaking point.

I had run all the budget numbers over and over and, after a recent raise, I was going to be in no different financial position if my loan was no more than $42,500. Their last offer, taxes included, was $43,899. Yea, we're that close and only it adds up to $21 extra a month/$252 per year. But I just didn't want to put myself in a situation where I'm compromising my now confortable financial position just because of that M3 in my garage, so I held firm. A couple days later I talked to to the CA and that's when he said he was at his break even point and couldn't go lower. No real reason to doubt him because we're close.

That said, if you're not going to the track, then you should only get the M3 if you at least plan to do a lot of spirited driving on back country roads with lots of twisties and little to no traffic. If you'll only be driving in the city or on straight roads the only differences you'll see with the M3 are less torque, worse fuel mileage, and increased fuel and insurance costs. The engine sound is addictive, there's no doubt about that, but that alone probably won't be enough to rationalize your loan to yourself.

It'd be a DD back-and-forth to work (a measly 10 miles, half freeway, half city), not many twistes on the weekend, not many trips, etc...

I would say test drive the M3 and decide that way, but if you test drive it odds are you'll just fall in love and buy it, so you may not want to do that. So instead I'll say think long and hard about the type of driving you'll be doing and whether you believe you'll honestly spend enough time driving in areas and in ways where the differences between these cars will be apparent and appreciated.

Unfortunately it's nearly four hours away. My dealership doesn't have one and there aren't any close with a DCT, which is what I'd get.

Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it. Touch choice, but the rational side of me says wait for the F32 335i...I just don't want to!

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by irish77380

I traded a 335 coupe (2007) for a 2008 M3. When I had the 335, I honestly thought it was an amazing car, fast as f@ck etc and had a similar dilemma. But got the M anyway. To give you an idea I got a 335 coupe as a loaner car recently while the M was in for a routine service. Very disappointing in every aspect after driving the M3 for a while, almost like a half assed M3??

GET THE M3, YOU WONT REGRET IT!! :-)

lol - Can you elaborate a little more? What was so disappointing about the 335 after having been in the M3?

[Skippy989]

I had a 335i 6MT with the sports package. It was the best car I had ever driven, hands down. Then I got an M3.

Its not quite as good as a daily driver as a 335i, but its a far better car all round.

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by VVG

A few points here:

Purchasing an M3 and cars like it, has to do more with passion than reason. Sure most people have a ballpark price limit, but if is exactly the car you want and you can afford it, get it.

It will be a very different car from the 335. The feel and powerband of a high revving small displacement V8 is so completely different from a tt-6. The M3 has very much a Jekyl and Hyde personality. It is very docile at low rpms, but when you push it, it is a beast. And you will need to push it to extract the performance. Still, it is quite an intoxicating experience when you do.

You talk about the next gen M3. Well it likely won't be here before 2014, and then you will be looking at shelling out $$$$ for a new car and a new model which will likely not sell below MSRP, for the first year anyway. This last point is really the most important factor to consider in your circumstance.

I edited my original post - I'm talking about waiting for the F32 335i/435i (whatever the next coupe will be called). That's what I'd get next if I held onto my E92.

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by Edward

Hmm. Can you legitimately see yourself being able to toss money at the new M3 when it comes out? If not, I'd go for this deal right now. Part of that money will be going towards a longer warranty on the new car, whereas yours is almost out (and undoubtedly the car will breakdown). Not to mention, if you keep this car for a long while, the M3 will date itself at a pace twice as slow as any other E9x series. Plus it sounds like you have no idrive and that alone is enough for me to want to throw up on my lap while driving whatever no nav having 3 series I find myself driving.

Just don't go into this expecting a world of difference in daily driving. As you did mention you won't be tracking the M3 much if at all.

Sorry, I edited my original post - I'd wait for the F32 335/435i coupe. No iDrive/Nav on my current car. Nav on my Droid works fine.

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by Skippy989

I had a 335i 6MT with the sports package. It was the best car I had ever driven, hands down. Then I got an M3.

Its not quite as good as a daily driver as a 335i, but its a far better car all round.

Why isn't it as good a DD? Unfortunately I've never even test drove or rode in an E92 M3 (and there aren't any DCTs close), so I don't even know how it rides, let alone handles...

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by 517

It'd be a DD back-and-forth to work (a measly 10 miles, half freeway, half city), not many twistes on the weekend, not many trips, etc...

Unfortunately it's nearly four hours away. My dealership doesn't have one and there aren't any close with a DCT, which is what I'd get.

Ok, let's clarify the whole "M3 as DD" thing. I think many on this forum including myself would argue that the M3 is perfectly usable as a DD, surprisingly so considering its performance. However, I think few if any members would argue that it's a good car to have if you'll be doing nothing EXCEPT DDing it. If all of your driving is going to be 10 miles split city and highway along with errands around town, I don't think the M3 is an appropriate car for you. That's no way to experience a car like this. The M3 is a car bought by people who spent time driving purely for the sake of driving enjoyment, not just because they need to get somewhere.

As for the test drive, assuming you know how to drive 6MT you could always test one of those. You won't get a feel for DCT but it'll at least give you a sense of the car. But again, if 100% of your driving will be DD, there's really no point. Not that that's stopped people though.

[Edward]

Originally Posted by 517

Sorry, I edited my original post - I'd wait for the F32 335/435i coupe. No iDrive/Nav on my current car. Nav on my Droid works fine.

yea, nav on your droid is fine now until you have idrive nav. That's the same thing as saying yea, this 318ti is dope and gets me to point B just fine, when you could have an M3. Also, your droid does not control your ipod, phone, car controls, settings, etc for you. Just sayin....iDrive is more the reason that it is a big plus on the M3 vs your current car.

[e1000]

Originally Posted by 517

I had run all the budget numbers over and over and, after a recent raise, I was going to be in no different financial position if my loan was no more than $42,500. Their last offer, taxes included, was $43,899. Yea, we're that close and only it adds up to $21 extra a month/$252 per year. But I just didn't want to put myself in a situation where I'm compromising my now confortable financial position just because of that M3 in my garage, so I held firm. A couple days later I talked to to the CA and that's when he said he was at his break even point and couldn't go lower. No real reason to doubt him because we're close.

Seriously? $21/mo will compromise your comfortable financial position? wow.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by e1000

Seriously? $21/mo will compromise your comfortable financial position? wow.

That's my thought too. I mean I guess you have to draw the line somewhere, but if you've already set the bar so high that you can't stretch that much for a car you really want, then you might want to rethink how high you set your bar in the first place.

[cosito1]

I drove both and decided for the M3 on the spot !. Like it has been said on this forum , is all about passion , the M3( I have a 2011) will overload your senses , the engine sound , how quick the transmission shifts , how easy it revs , how wonderful the paddle shifters work , how unbelievable is the rev matching ,the dome on the hood , etc
It's a better daily driver than any exotic out there . but forget driving it when it is snowing , you will not pass the mailbox on your house . However my understanding is that they are giving you snow tires , so it will be ok.

Now I bought many cars based on passion only and made mistakes , so think about it overnight . I promise that you will find another deal for sure if you think down the road " I should have bought the darn thing"

[e1000]

Depending on your driving characteristics, you will spend more than $21 more in gas/mo alone.

Sounds like you're cutting it too close, keep the 335i.